Improved car-coupling



SMITH & YHINCHMAN.

.C-arCoupling. v Patented March 16,1869.

= .N. PETERS, Fhclo-Likhugmpher, Washingtun. D. c.

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THOMAS B. SMITH AND ACANTHUS HINOHMAN, OF PLEASANT HILI Z MISSOURI.

Letters Patent No. 87,882, dated March 16, 1869.

IMPROVED OAR-COUPLING.

The Schedule rafen'eato in these Letters Patent and making part of the bums.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS B. SMITH and ACAN- THUS HINCHMAN, of Pleasant Hill, in the county of Cass, and State of Missouri, have invented a new and improved Oar-Coupling and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the bumper-heads of two adjacent cars, to which our improved coupling has been attached.

Figure 2 is a front view of one of the said bumperheads.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

Our invention has for its object to furnish an improved car-coupling, which shall be simple in construction, reliable and safe in operation, and which shall, at the same time, be self-coupling, so that the cars may be coupled without danger of injury to those making up the train; and

It consists iii the construction and combination of various parts of the coupling, as hereinafter more fully described.

A are the bumper-heads of two adjacent cars, which are constructed and secured to the cars in the ordinary manner.

B is the coupling-bar, which is made solid, and with wedge-shaped or triangular heads upon both ends, as shown in fig. 1, said heads being madethicker than the body of the bar, so as to form shoulders upon both the upper and lower sides, as shown.

In the lower side of the bumper-headsA are formed holes, into which the heads of the coupling-bar may drop, so that the draught-strain may be supported by the shoulders of said co1'1pling-l. ar,as shown in fig. 1.

O is a bar passing down through a hole in the upper side of the bumper-heads A, in such a position that the lower end of said bar 0 may rest upon the body of the coupling-bar B, just at or near the shoulder formed by the head of said bar.

The bar 0 is held down upon the coupling-bar B, holding said coupling-bar in its place by the spring D, one end of which is connected with said bar 0, and the other end of which is embedded in and secured to the upper side of the bumper-heads A.

The forward side of the lower end of thebar G is bevelled off, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, so that, as the cars are run together, the wedge-shaped head of the coupling-bar B, as it enters the bumper-head of the adjacent car, may raise the bar 0, and enter the bumperhead, coupling the cars.

E is a hoop, corresponding in shape to the form of the bumper-heads A, about which it passes, but exceeding said bumper-heads in vertical diameter, as shown in fig. 2. The upper side of the hoop, or band E, is connected with the upper end of the bar 0, so as to be raised with and by the said bar 0.

To the lower side of the hoop, or band E, is attached a block, I fitting into the hole in the lower side of the bumper-heads A, and which should be of such a length as, when the bar 0 is down, not to interfere with the head of the coupling-bar O, as shown in fig. 1'.

G is a guide-bar, attached to the lower side of the bumper-heads A, and which passes through keepers attached to the rear sides of the blocks F, so as to guide the said blocks, and keep them in proper positions in their up-and-down movements.

H are connecting-bars or levers, thelower ends of which are connected with the upper ends of the bars 0, and which extend up to the platform, or top of the car, into such a position that they may be conveniently reached and operated to uncouple the cars.

If desired, holes may be formed through the body of the coupling-bar 0, so that the said bar may be used for coupling a car provided with our improved coupling, to one provided with the ordinary coupling.

Having thus described our invention,

We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination of the bar 0, spring D, band E,

block F, and guide-rod G, with each other, the slotted draw-head A, and the coupling-link B, as herein described, for the purpose specified.

THOMAS B. SMITH. AOANTHUS HINOHMAN. Witnesses:

J NO. 0. MAGILL, H. D. PHELPS. 

